Verse one starts off with, “As the deer pants for streams of water so my soul pants for you, my God.”

Panting for something is to do anything you can to get it. The problem is, Christians are not panting for more of God. There is “contentment” in the church. Sadly, Christians are panting more for their jobs, sports, finances, addictions, etc. They sacrifice so much for the things of this world.

To pant for God is to do whatever you have to in order to get more of him. It's to make sacrifices (giving up things of the world to get more of God verses giving up God to get more things of the world).

I am reminded of a man who walks a great distance to Walmart for food and supplies. I see him West of route 79 walking to Walmart. Then he carries his supplies in two hands as he heads back to his home. Every time I see him, I think about this verse. I think about what he is willing to do to get food and survive. He knows he can't live without it. That's the same attitude I want. I want to strive and hunger and thirst for God and his righteousness knowing that I can't live without it.

I even saw him yesterday walking and said to myself, “If I didn't have a vehicle would I walk to church for spiritual food like this man walks for physical food?”

Or would I make excuses. “Oh, I can't go because I don't have a vehicle!”

I wonder what excuses people use to skip Church fellowship?

I wonder what excuses people use to skip reading God's word?

I wonder what excuses people use to not pursue the righteousness and Holiness of God?

We'll either hunger and thirst for God or we'll make excuses trying to justify our lack of pursuit for spiritual food, for God himself.

Help me God to truly hunger and thirst for more and more of you! Forgive me when I fail you with excuses.